FOR THE FUN OF IT:

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

CAULDRON OF HORROR #4: MORE CRYPTIC TALES

AC's Cauldron of Horror #4 crashes from its crypt to serve four, absorbing chapters that prove as eerie as they are creepy. 

Two of the chapters connect, presenting the sultry cowgirl, Djustine (of Tales of the Twisted West fame), returning for monster-hunting action. (Watch her tangle with Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster and werewolves galore!) The in-between tales cater to a ravenous killer in old France and a movie-star bloodsucker who gets a little too comfortable for her own good (each equipped with a swell, surprise ending). 

The artistic talents for Cauldron #4 come from Mark Heike, Bill Black, Chris Allen (for "Stakeout"), Enrico Teodorani, Andrea Bulgarelli and Luigi Sinscalchi (for "Monsters," "Beware, Djustine is Coming" and "Paris 1830"). These innovative creators are uninhibited in bringing the enclosed terrors to full, shocking life.    

For fans of horror anthologies, Cauldron #4 is one to seize, in particular considering Djustine's resurgence. Who knows? If we're lucky, this could turn into an ongoing, Cauldron thing. 

BTW: I procured my copy of Cauldron #4 at Steve's Comic Relief on Quakerbridge Rd, Village Commons in Lawrenceville, NJ: a fruitful hub, jammed with wall-to-wall amazement.  

And remember, folks, Cauldron #5 is coming soon. From the looks of it, we're in for a torsion of long legs and long tentacles! I can only imagine what other weird, sensual wonders are in store.

Collection Recommendation: Bloke's Terrible Tomb of Terror (Ready for Resurrection?)

Horror, comic-book reading has been a pastime of mine during many of summer's steamy streams. Jason Crawley's Bloke's Terrible Tomb of Terror is a perfect source for such grim activity. 

I've reviewed installments of the title for my blog some time back. Alas, Crawley has retired his series: a shame since the contents of the seventeen-issue spread deliver the ghastly goods on so many levels. 

The illustrated tales (almost all woven by Crawley) range from traditional, marauding monsters to psychological, Poe-ish conflict, covering grimy, graveyard games to cosmic explorations gone awry. Curvy ladies (both good and bad) liven up the scenery. In a nutshell, Tomb is a well stirred torsion of blatant simplicity matched by torrid complexity, each extreme thriving beneath and throughout its Amicus-styled format.

The artwork, in particular, is exquisite and comes from established names in the field, who've reached back in time to render fluid and detailed panels that surpass most of today's competition. 

However, the ultimate key to Tomb's success is its host, the Bloke, who sports a not-so-coincidental resemblance to his benefactor. Crawley's alter ego reminds me of my Brother Mike from Elixirs!, but with a sarcastic edge that I only wish my character expressed. With his top hat and (depending on the issue) wooly beard, the Bloke administers a wry, overseeing command comparable to Uncle Creepy, Cousin Eerie and the Cryptkeeper. 

For the frugal, one can purchase economical, "Monster Sized" volumes of Tomb, which contain substantial chunks from Crawley's queue, but whether one goes for original-release issues or reprint compilations, satisfaction is always guaranteed.  

Bloke's Terrible Tomb of Terror can be purchased through Amazon and Etsy. Test the waters with a sample, but expect to get hooked. Who the bloody hell knows? Perhaps if sales spike, Crawley will see fit to resurrect his weird and wicked creation: something I (and many others, no doubt) would applaud to the horrifying hilt. 

BANDIDO STUDIOS COMICS AND ART PRESENTS...THE FLYING WITCH OF TRES RIOS

A new, weird tale has come upon us, thanks to the talented artist/writer Jesse Lalochezia Gutierrez. This particular Bandido Studios Comics & Art submission overflows with spine-tingling scares, hip heroics and child-charged cheer.  

The ten-page, booklet is entitled The Flying Witch of Tres Rios and acts as a chapter in "The Case Files of Professor Nostrodamus".  It's impossible not to be enthralled by what unfolds. I suppose that only goes to reason, considering Gutierrez's history of matching ideal imagery with snappy storytelling...

In Flying Witch, three youngsters come upon the eponymous creature when they discover her detached feet. (These particular entities abandon their feet whenever they ascend to dispatch their curses upon humankind.)  To stop her spread of misfortune, they recruit a mighty, masked hero named El Tigre, who's eager to squash the shapeshifter and her spellcasting ways.  

The witch is creepy to an unnerving tee, but the gutsy trio heightens the fun in a humble yet realistic way, which would make Flying Witch identifiable to any youngster who'd happily read any EC entry given the chance. 

There's also Gutierrez's atmospheric backdrop, which grazes the playful joys of summer and autumn rolled into one.  In this manner, Flying Witch touches the poetic terrains of Ray Bradbury, Mark Twain, Stephen King, Tom Tryon and old-school Steven Spielberg, as well as those magnificent, matinee features where lively luchadores always saved the day.

There's no doubt that Gutierrez's story has just the right, spirited sweep to become a classic of the indie-comic domain.  

To sample Gutierrez's work, please visit ...  https://www.facebook.com/Bandido-Studios-Comics-Art-530591547078097/.

His page brims with fertile visions that'll leave the viewer amazed, stimulated and darn well pleased. 

BLOKE'S TERRIBLE TOMB OF TERROR: 4TH MONSTER-SIZED COLLECTION!!!

BLOKE'S TERRIBLE TOMB OF TERROR: Monster-Sized Collection #4 is now available. 

Stories from Issues #14 - #17 are contained in this wonderful, 200-page edition of Jason Crawley's macabre creation. His twisted tales weave through horror, science fiction and dark fantasy, all with flamboyant effect.   
Only the top artists in the field bring these offbeat yarns to life. The results are stunning and above all, uninhibited. Fear not: Timidness does not taint the Bloke's hosted world.

I've been telling folks for years now how ideally retro Terrible Tomb of Terror is. For those who remember and relish the likes of Eerie, Creepy and Vampirella, Bloke/Crawley's blood-curdling concoctions will be a fulfilling treat. And the latest collection is a splendid way to introduce oneself to the wicked offerings. For the price (a measly $19.95), one would be hellishly foolish not to indulge!!!

Order your copy today at ... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1986830136/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1522362101&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=bloke%27s+terrible+tomb+of+terror+vol+4.

BLOKE'S TERRIBLE TOMB OF TERROR #17: A HUNDRED PAGES OF DEVILISH DELIGHT!!!

A spankin' new issue of Bloke's Terrible Tomb of Terror is now available for purchase, and Jason Crawley's latest, dynamic offering (#17) is jammed with 100 pages of eerie/creepy fun!!!

This time around, Crawley/the Bloke presents stories that pay homage to the yarn-weaving charms of Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch and Robert E. Howard, along with a few fond traces of Jack the Ripper and Hammer Horror. No matter which gripping tale one chooses to read, one's imagination will be ignited and one's nightmares assured. 

To fortify the fun, another talented line-up is on hand to assist the Bloke: Mike Hoffman; Santos Zaballos; Samuel Argo; Marc Gras Cots; Ellis Goodson; Sal L. Donaire; Javier Caba; Carlos Lamani; Alfonso Bueno; Alex Ogalla; David Brana Jeff Provine; Juan Alcudia; and Jeff Austin. And how 'bout that wild, exotic/erotic Hoffman cover!!! Oh, I could stare at it for hours on end!!! (It's also a swell companion piece to the artist's wonderful, underwater images for Issues #12 and #16.) 

Bloke's Terrible Tomb of Terror #17 can be purchased at ... https://www.amazon.com/Blokes-Terrible-Tomb-Terror-Special/dp/1978424833/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510960527&sr=8-1&keywords=bloke%27s+terrible+tomb+of+terror+%2317&dpID=515SqNfWfVL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch. 

Don't miss out on this epic issue from one of the best horror-comic anthologies ever produced in this or any decade!!!

RON FORTIER'S TALES OF THE MACABRE COLLECTED (VOL 1) HAUNTS THIS HALLOWEEN SEASON!!!

I'm in utter, macabre heaven, thanks to Ron Fortier's Tales of the Macabre Collected Vol 1: a new comic-book compilation of some of the author's finest and strangest stories, packaged by Redbud Studio and Airship 27 Productions. 

To make the volume ever more enticing, it contains a whopping twenty-one installments, all scripted by Fortier, who fans well know can sure weave a top-notch comic yarn, as evidenced by his Mr. Jigsaw; Black Lion; Terminator; and Green Hornet entries.

To bring Fortier's mad visions to life, there's an accompaniment of superb imagery, fashioned by such spectacular artists as Kevin Adkins; Luis Alonso; Rock Baker (of Femforce and exalted pin-up fame); Jesus Marquez; Cesar Feliciano; Kurt Belcher; Henrik Horvath; Chad Blakely; Mitch Byrd; Chris Hoskins; Emil Kopcke; Hoyt Silva; BJay Johnson; Brin Latimer; Jason Copland; Sam A. Salas; Mark A. Saxton; Armin Odzic; Oliver Raymond; Jeremy McHugh; Gary Kato (Fortier's Mr. Jigsaw collaborator); and Rob Davis (Fortier's faithful Airship Chief Engineer and Redbud publisher). 

In ambiance and flair, the stories offer an inebriating blend of "Twilight Zone"; "Night Gallery"; "Tales from the Darkside"; "Lights Out"; "Inner Sanctum"; and "Suspense", but they also insinuate the odd and enchanting sentimentality of DC's House of Mystery and House of Secrets. 

As such, Fortier's yarns cover a wide and wild range, with some standing as brief, clever pieces (in the "Night Gallery" vein), while others concentrate more expansively on traditional monsters and spirits, with yet others making use of such engrossing topics as murder; medieval alchemy; rodent infestation; robotic advancement; terrain transformation; and (hot dog!) girlie magazines. In truth, there's a little bit of everything to tickle any fright fan's fancy, and (as should come as no surprise to Fortier's followers), there's not a bad apple in the bunch. Each tale is guaranteed to spring a shiver down one's spine or put a devilish grin on one's face. 

For those hankering something new that's also in the groove of something nostalgically tried-and-true, Ron Fortier's Tales of the Macabre Collected Vol 1 is the best ticket around this Halloween season for astounding and eerie escapism!!!

Purchase your copy today at ... https://www.amazon.com/Ron-Fortiers-Tales-Macabre-Collection/dp/1946183253/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505941907&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=ron+fortier%27s+tales+of+the+macbre.  

BLOKE'S TERRIBLE TOMB OF TERROR #16 NOW AVAILABLE!!!

The masterful Jason Crawley (aka, the Bloke) does it again and to seal the deal, get a load of that terrific, shark/babe Mike Hoffman cover! Whoa!!!

Inside the latest BLOKE’S TERRIBLE TOMB OF TERROR (Issue #16), one will find a slew of gruesome gems, covering such disturbing delights as woodland specters; a haunted mansion; outer-space suspense; warring witches; and that ol' lusty standby, adultery.

In addition to Crawley's contributions, the artistic contents are rendered by Paul Abrams; Jeff Austin; Keith Braun; Marc Gras Cots; Robert Flood; Daerick Gross Sr; Nik Poliwko; Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo; Juan Luis Iglesias Roncero; and Santos Zaballos. Each page brims of detailed strangeness and suspense, guaranteed to keep aficionados of Warren's Eerie and Creepy gleefully fulfilled. Great, chilling stuff all the way!!! Hip! Hip! Hooray!!!

Get your copy of  TOT #16 at…https://www.amazon.com/Blokes-Terrible-Tomb-Terror-16/dp/1544628935/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492462450&sr=8-1&keywords=bloke%27s+terrible+tomb+of+terror+%2316.  

You can also order at ... https://www.etsy.com/listing/525674835/issue-16-blokes-terrible-tomb-of-terror?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=bloke%27s%20terrible%20tomb%20of%20terror%20#16&ref=sr_gallery_1.

BLOKE'S TERRIBLE TOMB OF TERROR #14 ARRIVES!!!

BLOKE'S TERRIBLE TOMB OF TERROR #14 is here, and jeepers creepers, it's a dandy!!! Heck, Mike Hoffman's exotic cover alone is enough to put one under an eternal spell. 

This latest installment in Jason "the Bloke" Crawley's ongoing horror-hosted anthology features such chillingly titled tales as "Coma"; "Dealings with the Dead"; "The Legacy"; "Saucers Among Us!"; "Share and Share Alike"; and "Treat 'Em Right". The contents are rendered by such talented individuals as Jeff Austin; Christian Andres Baez; Keith Braun;Emanuel Derna; Mike Hoffman; Von Crawlhoff; Salvador Lopez; Rob Moran; Alex Ogalla; Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo; Carlos Valenzuela; and of course, the always wickedly imaginative Crawley.

As a result of participating in Crawley's Kickstarter campaign to make #14 a reality, I also received some superb collectibles, as you can see below. (The t-shirt features the atmospheric cover from Terrible Tomb's 3rd Monster-Sized Collection: see Oct '15.)

TOMB is a worthy, creative endeavor to support, whether through generous funds or simply by purchasing issues through Etsy and Amazon. 

Issue #14 beckons you to enter its diabolical pages and become immersed in its unsettling delights. Don't delay--order your copy today!!!